Konrad Mizzi yesterday repeatedly refused the title of minister without portfolio, insisting he was a minister within the Office of the Prime Minister.
Only two days ago he had been conspicuously absent from the public domain for the good part of two months since the Panama affair erupted. But yesterday he came out of the woodwork to address a seminar for business leaders and policymakers on government’s energy vision.
The speech, which had long been scheduled, came 24 hours after the Prime Minister reshuffled his Cabinet, stripping Dr Mizzi of his energy and health portfolios but retaining him as a Cabinet minister.
Taking questions from journalists after the seminar session was over, Dr Mizzi adopted what appeared to be a business-as-usual attitude on the events that took place on Thursday.
He skirted questions about his decision to open a company in secretive Panama, insisting he had explained himself enough on the matter, and praised the Prime Minister’s chief of staff, Keith Schembri, who was the second person embroiled in the Panama affair.
The Panama company would be closed once the audit was completed, he reiterated.
I am privileged to work with Keith Schembri, now in the Office of the Prime Minister
Dr Mizzi confirmed that he had offered his resignation as Labour Party deputy leader but left the decision on his future as minister in the hands of the Prime Minister.
“Like I said already, I was ready to do whatever the Prime Minister asked me to do. I would have left Parliament if he asked me to do so.”
He did admit having various discussions with Dr Muscat on different scenarios related to his public and party positions.
But Dr Mizzi displayed no acrimony when asked whether he was made the scapegoat of the Panama affair, given that Mr Schembri was retained as the Prime Minister’s chief of staff.
The minister credited Mr Schembri with record economic growth and said it was good of the Prime Minister to retain his services. “I am privileged to work with Keith Schembri, now in the Office of the Prime Minister,” he said.
Elaborating on his new role, he said the Prime Minister had tasked him to see the power station project through and he would be also responsible for the public-private partnerships the government engaged in.
Both roles fell under his previous remit, making it seem like little has changed despite the reshuffle.
Asked specifically whether he would personally deal with Azerbaijan on energy-related issues, Dr Mizzi said the Prime Minister had made it clear that he wanted him to handle the energy sector.
“I want to improve people’s lives,” he said, walking away from a question about whether he was sorry for the Panama affair.